UCSB Travels to Malibu, SLO This Week

 The Schedule
Wednesday, October 6, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
UC Santa Barbara at Pepperdine (10-5)
at Pepperdine's Firestone Fieldhouse (3,104)
Series record vs. the Waves - 29-18
Streak - Won 1
Last time out vs. the Waves - W, 3-1 (10/13/09)
Match available on Gametracker
Match broadcast live on CBS TV

Saturday, October 9, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
UC Santa Barbara at Cal Poly (13-4, 3-1)
at Cal Poly's Mott Gym (3,032)
Series record vs. the Mustangs - 40-23
Streak - Lost 1
Last time out vs. the Mustangs - L, 3-1 (11/7/09)
Live stats available by clicking here
Match streaming live online through BigWest.TV

 The Short and the Long of It
After winning in five games against then-No. 21 Long Beach State on Friday and getting swept by Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, the Gauchos have officially started a trend this season. When playing in three-game matches UCSB is just 2-6. However, when stretching things out to five games the Gauchos are a perfect 4-0.

 RPI Report
In the first official Ratings Percentage Index released by the NCAA on Monday, UCSB checks in at No. 51 in the nation. Santa Barbara is rated as the third-highest Big West team (behind Cal State Fullerton, No. 36 and Long Beach State, No. 41). The Gauchos play Pepperdine, whose RPI is 68, and Cal Poly, whose RPI is 56, this week.

 It's Called Middle "Blocker" For a Reason
Junior middle blocker Stacey Schmidt has been an offensive presence every match this season, but lately she's been adding to her repertoire. She combined for six solo blocks and 13 total blocks in the Gauchos' two matches last weekend as her four solo blocks against Long Beach State were one away from tying the school record for solo blocks in rally-scoring. Both Olivia Waldowski (vs. UC Riverside in 2004) and Courtney Guerra (vs. Long Beach State in 2002) had five solo blocks in a rally-scoring match. Schmidt is sixth in the conference with her .338 hitting percentage and she is second on the team with her 3.03 kills per set. Her 0.87 blocks per set paces the Gauchos.

 V is For Vargas
Senior setter Dana Vargas, who is third all-time in UCSB history with 4,148 assists, ranks fourth in the Big West - and 58th in the nation - with her 10.40 assists per set average. The 2009 All-American has seven double-doubles this season - all with assists and digs - and ranks fourth on the team with her 2.43 digs per set. The Seal Beach, Calif. native is just one of three Gauchos to reach 4,000 career assists and there is a chance Vargas could become just the third setter in UCSB history to reach 5,000 assists, joining Liz Towne (1985-88) and Brooke Rundle (1998-2001).

 Char Broiler
Senior outside hitter Charlene DeHoog leads the team with her 3.12 kills per set and is second on the Gauchos with her 2.78 digs per set. The Bakersfield, Calif. native has recorded double-digit kills in eight of the team's 16 matches this season and has 10 matches with double-digit digs. She recorded her seventh double-double of the year with 17 kills and 15 digs vs. Long Beach on Friday.

 A Sherr Thing
Redshirt freshman Kara Sherrard posted her fourth double-double of the season in Friday's win over Long Beach State with 15 kills and 10 digs and on Saturday she led the Gauchos with nine kills in the loss to Cal State Fullerton. The Lancaster, Calif. native is third on the team with 2.12 kills per set and ranks third on the team with 2.54 digs per set. In conference play, Sherrard is second on the team with 2.88 kills per set.

 Getting Defensive
As a team UCSB is averaging 15.23 digs per set, which is third in the conference and helping lead the way has been newcomer Kelly Heenan. The freshman from Costa Mesa, Calif. is averaging 3.40 digs per set, which ranks eighth in the Big West. She's been even more impressive lately, recording double-digit digs in 10 of her past 11 matches. During that stretch Heenan is averaging 16.0 digs per match and a robust 3.91 digs per set and in conference play it's an even better 4.19 digs per set. Heenan had a career-high 26 digs on Sept. 18 at San Diego State.

 Solid Start
By opening conference play 3-1, it marks UCSB's best start in the Big West since the team started 8-1 in 2005. That 2005 squad finished the year 21-9 overall and 12-2 in the Big West.

 Ace in the Hole
With 79 total aces through its 16 matches, UCSB is tied for second among Big West schools in total aces. However, the Gauchos' average of 1.32 per set ranks third in the conference.

 In Her Sights
UCSB's legendary head coach, Kathy Gregory, is fourth all-time amongst active Division I coaches with 840 victories and by the end of the year could become just the sixth coach in NCAA Division I history to achieve 850 in a career. Gregory is also one of just five active coaches in women's volleyball history to coach at least 1,200 matches.

 `Dome Sweet `Dome
After finishing last season 11-1 in the friendly confines of the Thunderdome, UCSB is 1-1 in the `Dome this year (its first home match vs. Cincinnati was played in Rob Gym). UCSB's all-time record in the Thunderdome is 222-67 (.768).

 Making the Cutt(rell)
Santa Barbara native Mimi Cuttrell ranks fourth on the team this season with her 2.03 kills per set.

 Five Alive
Five UCSB players - DeHoog, Heenan, Chelsey Lowe, Schmidt and Vargas - have seen court time in all of the Gauchos' 60 sets this season.

 Sully Out For Year
Starting outside hitter Leah Sully tore her left anterior cruciate ligament in UC Santa Barbara's first match of the season, vs. No. 11 Cal. Sully, who played in every one of the Gauchos' sets in 2009, will be lost for the season. The Irvine, Calif. native led UCSB in service aces last season, including a school-record seven against UC Irvine. UCSB will likely rotate sophomore Mimi Cuttrell and freshmen Katey Thompson, Kara Sherrard and Jenna Wilson through Sully's spot.

 Blue-Green Rivalry
The athletics rivalry between UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly has grown in recent years, and now the schools are putting their competition to good use through the Blue-Green Rivalry.

As the Gauchos and Mustangs battle it out on the field, diamond, court and in the pool, the Big West rivals will seek to make fans and students aware of their campuses' recycling and sustainability efforts. The eco-slant to the rivalry fits the colors of sustainability (blue and green) as well as those of UCSB (blue) and Cal Poly (green).

The Blue-Green Rivalry is based on the results of the 16 common sports that the schools compete in and winner will be decided prior to the end of each school year.

The creative angle of using games to promote the campuses' sustainability and recycling efforts is the first of its kind in college athletics. To learn more about sustainability efforts at UCSB, click here.

 Stay in Touch With the Gauchos
UCSB players are frequently updating Gaucho fans about the team through the school's website - UCSBgauchos.com, or by clicking here. Defensive specialist Katie Ring will regularly write in her "Ring it On" blog and libero Chelsey Lowe provides constant Twitter updates. Follow her at twitter.com/ucsbvolleyball.

The Intercollegiate Athletics Ticket Office has two parking spaces adjacent to the building and is now open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., making it easier than ever for fans to purchase tickets. The two parking spots, designated specifically for the Ticket Office, are also available during weekday hours, which are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Gaucho Fund, launched as part of the Dare to Be Great strategic plan, is UCSB Athletics' annual giving program to provide vital funding support for scholarships, academic success and leadership development for Gaucho student-athletes. The Gaucho Fund is the anchor to the Dare to Be Great campaign.

GKids is the official kids club of UCSB Athletics. Members receive a free GKids t-shirt, free admittance to tons of Gaucho games, opportunities to be ball boys and girls at games, a special birthday greeting from Olie (the GKids mascot) and much, much more! For more information on GKids, or to become a member, please click here.